Finding Home in hawaii

Hawaii felt different for us. As my husband and I reflected on this trip, we don’t just miss the beach, the turquoise waters, or Disney Aulani in my case. We miss a sense of familiarity. We truly felt like it had such a homey feel that we could not shake off, possibly because we’ve never encountered such warmth before in our domestic travels.

From the moment we stepped off the plane and felt the warm island breeze, something stirred deep inside us. It wasn’t just the smell of plumeria in the air or the gentle sound of the ocean; it was the feeling of belonging — of being seen.

We’ve been to places where we had to blend in quietly, where we admired from afar, or were stared at as if “Hey, what are you doing here?” But in Hawaii, something was different. Everywhere we turned, we saw faces that looked like ours — the same sun-kissed skin, the same eyes that kiss in the corner, the same thick, dark hair, and the same sense of family. It was a feeling of comfort, like recognizing a long-lost family friend.

There was something so powerful about being surrounded by a culture that values family, respect, and community — values that mirror our own. From free hot dogs from Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck to seeing families come together before school at the local store in the middle of a neighborhood.

This trip taught us that travel can be more than sightseeing — it can be soul-seeing. We left Hawaii with more than photos and souvenirs; we left with a deeper appreciation for who we are and where we come from. And now we can see why the Hawaiians are so protective over their culture and almost do not want the mainland influence.

Hawaii didn’t just welcome us — it reflected us. And that’s something we’ll carry in our hearts forever beyond the blue waters.

Mahalo Hawaii,
Rachel Saefong